Massage-machine.



No. 737,465. PATENTED AUG. 25', 1903. C. PFANSGHMIDT 6L J SIEPERT.

MSSAGB MACHINE. l

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 28, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTBD AUG. 25, 1903. c. PFANSGHMIDT a J. SIEPERT.

MASSAGE MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED PEB. 2B, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

N0 MODEL.

ive; remet;

UNiTnD STATES ratented August '25, 190e.

PATENT OFFICE.

MAssAcE-MAcHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,465, dated August 25, 1903. Application filed February 28, 1903. rerial No. 145,614. (No model.)

T0 cI/ZZ whom, t 11i/ty concern:

Be it vknown that we, CHARLES PEAN- the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improveg ments in Massage-Machines, of which the fol# lowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a machine which combines within a small space mechanism fonimparting a variety of motions to the massage cups or disks, thereby enabling the samemachine to be used in various massage operations, so that the operator may change the character of the treatment to suit the requirements of 'each particular case without the necessity for the use of a new machine or for an extensive readjustment ofthe parts composing the machine. The machine is further intended to be portable and of light weight, so that a physician or masseur may carry the instrument from place to place, thereby enabling the patient to take home treatments and obviating the necessity for visits to the 'oiice or parlor of the operator. ranged that three motions may be impartedan oscillating or vibratory motion, a reciprocating or pounding motion, and a rotary or gyrating motion. VThese three motions are all imparted from a single shaft, which is adapted to be rotated by a motor carried by the operator, enabling a great variety of massage operations to be performed at a single treatment.

The invention consists'in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the operating-head; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section taken at right angles to the plane ofthe section of Fig. 2; Fig. 4f, a crosssection showing the handle broken' away;44

Figs. 5 and 6, views showing massage instruments adapted for use with the machine; Fig. 7, a view showing the entire device as carried by the operator; Fig. S, a longitudinal sectional view of the portable box or casing containing the motor; Fig. 9, a top or plan view of the same, and Fig. 10 a cross-sectional View of the same.

The operating-head is so ar.

The mechanism for imparting the various motions above referred to is contained withina casing which is substantially T-shaped or hammer-shaped, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and consists of a longitudinally-extending handle A, through the center of which extends aholeor opening a, and said handle is preferably provided on its exterior with an insulatingcasing ct', of wood, ber, or other heatnon conducting material, which arrangement is desirable in order that the hand of the operator may not be heated by the heat incident to the operation of the parts.

`Vlithin the longitudinally-extending hole in the handle -Ais a shaft B, provided in its end with a recess b, adapted for the insertion thereintoof a fiexible shaft B', leading to the source; of energy. The outer end b of the rigid shaft is turned down to a smaller :diameter than the shaft, and, as shown, is encircled by an exterior bearing-collar b2, preferably of hardened material, screw-threaded into the body of the handle, as shown in Fig. 2, and the end b3 is likewise encircled by a hardened interiorcollar b4, which two collars are of sufficient thickness to prevent contact between the face ofv the shaft and the Walls of the hole, affording an easy rotation for the shaft causing the entire frictional contact of the shaft to be against the hardened bearings, thereby preventingundue wear or strain on the other parts of the machine. The inner fend of the shaft terminates in an eccentric- Istud B2,Which, as shown, is surrounded bya hardened bearing-sleeve b5, against which 'bearing-collar the mechanism operating the vibratin g and reciprocating shafts is adapted to contact. The handle terminates in a crossvhead C, consisting of a casing C', inclosing the vibrating mechanism, and a casing C2, in closing the reciprocating mechanism, which latter casing terminates in a section C3, screwA threaded onto a ring C4, to form a shoulder 'or ledge (l5-at the point'of contact. The body `or casing C is hollowed or recessed to'have IDO of the machine.

the opposite wall of the body or casing, affordin g an axle or bearing for mounting thereon the vibrating shaft D, which is provided nearitscenter witha hardened ball d, through which the pivotal pin or axle passes, and said ball is of a sufficient diameter' to contact the inner walls of the hardened ring and prevent any lateral movement of the vibrating shaft and secure a firm and perfect bearing-surface for the vibration of the shaft D. The inner end of the vibratable shaft is forked with arms d', between which extends a slot d2 into the body of the shaft, and through said slot is screw-threaded an adjusting-screw da for regulating the divergence of the arms of the shalt and enabling the same to be adjusted to take up any wear incident to the operation The two arms are substantially parallel at their operating ends and are spaced a sucient distance apart to snugly embrace the collar on the eccentric at the end of the shaft, so that a rocking or vibratory motion will be imparted to the vibratory shaft with the rotation of the main shaft, the vibrating shaft swinging back and forth on its pivotal axle or bearing. The vibrating shaft is provided at its outer end with a slotted recess d3, for the insertion thereinto of a cup, pad, or other massage implement, and said implement is retained in its place by the clamping action of a head d4, which is screwthreaded onto the end of the vibrating shaft and, as shown, is of a suicientdiameter to inclose the end of the recess in the body or casing of the vibratory mechanism. At the opposite end of the crosshead C is a reciprocating shaft E, located within a recess E in the body or casing C2, and said recess is of a diameter slightly larger than the recess in the screw-threaded end section C3, forming the shoulder or ledge C5, before referred to. The reciprocating shaft, as shown, is composed of two sections, an inner section E2and an outer section E3, the inner sectionterminating at its inner end in a hardened concave bearing-face e, adapted to contact the eccentric collar on its free side and terminating at its outer end in a stud e', adapted to enter the inner end e2 of the outer section. The stud is provided with a laterally-extending pin e3, operating within aslot e4 in the Wall of the outer section of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 3, and within the section e2 is a spring e5, of a less length than the recess within which it operates, contacted by the end of the stud e', permitting the sections of the shaft to be telescoped one. within the other when pressure is brought to bear upon the spring e5. Around the two sections of the shaft is an exterior spring e6, which bears at one end against a shoulder e7, formed .on Y

the outer section of the vibratable shaft,and at its other end against a ledge e8, formed at 1 the inner end of the recess E in theshell or casing, which arrangement causes the outer lsection of the reciprocating shaft to be forced of the outer section, which contact limits the outward thrust of the reciprocating shaft. The reciprocating shaft is provided with an vinwardly-extending recess eloin its outer end for the insertion thereinto of a massage implement suitable for use in a pounding operation. In the end of the eccentric stud is a depression F, against which bears agyrating shaft F', provided with a ball-bearingf, suitably located and terminating in a recessed socketf for the insertion thereinto of an instrument suitable in massage operations. The ball-bearing F bears against a hardened socketf2, having a curvature conforming to the curvature of the ball-bearing, and said ball-bearing is held in place by means of a cap f3, screw-threaded down onto a boss f4 and provided with a bearing-facefi, curved to coincide With the curvature of the ballbearing and the socket heretofore referred to. When it is desirable to remove either the reciprocating or gyrating shaft, the same may be readily accomplished by unscrewing the caps or sections by which the respective shafts are held in place, which is the only Y ICO which arrangement is important,since the euergy of the machine is not expended in useless operations nor are the parts heated or worn unless actually in use. In the pounding operation when the pounding disk or knob has been inserted into place and pressed against the surface of the skin to be operated upon the outer section of the oscillating or pounding shaft will be pressed back against thepressure of the outer spring e6, and likewise against the pressure of the inner spring e5, which, however, is of a less length than the recess within which it operates, which arrangement allows the outer section to be forced Yback slightly before movement is imparted to the inner section, after which, however, the spring c5 will be compressed, im-

parting pressure to the inner section and gradually forcing the latter back against the rapidly-revolving eccentric-collar until the inner spring has been compressed sufficiently to allow the end of the outer section of the shaft to contact the shoulder formed on the inner shaft, at which point the shaft becomes, in effect, a solid shaft and the full force of IIC the pounding or reciprocating motion will be felt. This arrangement allows the pounding effect to be varied or regulated by the pressure which is brought to bear thereon, a light pressure producing a correspondingly lightpounding effect and a heavy pressure a heavy poundingeffect. Thetransmission,however, from a light to a heavy pounding is gradual by reason of the tension of the spring, so that the machine will not be injured by a sudden motion imparted to the reciprocating or pounding shaft, nor will the effect produced on the skin of the person operated upon be sudden and severe, but gradual, so that the effect produced may be regulated to suit the conditions of the case. When pressure is released from the shaft, the outer section will be acted upon by the interior spring and forced back into contact with the shoulder C5, the pin e3 of the inner section meanwhile contacting the end of the slot in the outer section, which contact serves to withdraw the concave contact end of the inner section from contact with the revolving shaft, so that the reciprocating shaft is drawn entirely out of contact with the eccentric and its motion stopped.

' treatment.

Figs. 7, 8, 9, and l0 illustrate the portable mechanism employed to operate the devices hitherto described. As shown, such portable mechanism is contained within a box G, of narrow formation, having a curved top and provided at its ends with straps G', by which it may be supported from the shoulder of the operator. Within the box is an electric motor H, provided with a motor-shaft H and suitable brushes h of any ordinary form ation. The motor-shaft operates Within j ou rnal-bearings h and h2, and to the end of the motorshaft is attached the flexible shaft B', above referred to. The motor is provided with su pply-wires h3 and h4, leading to any suitable source of electrical supply. The reciprocating shaft of this invention may be otherwise arranged than in the manner hitherto described. It is intended that the box containing the motor shall further serve as a support or rest for the body of a patient when it is desirable to treat such patient for weakness or aection of the prostate gland, and for this reason the top of the box is rounded, so that the patient may sit thereon during It has been found beneficial to impart a pounding or oscillating motion to the prostate gland and surrounding parts in order to increase the circulation and nerve action, and the box is fitted with a reciprocating shaft similar to the one hitherto described, which shaft operates within a suitable socket or casing h5, extending down from the top of the box and secured thereto by means of a iiange h6, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, although other arrangements may be employed, if desired. The reciprocating shaft contacts directly against an eccentric H2 on the motor-shaft and receives its motion directly therefrom, imparting such motion to a pad or disk H3, which rises above the top of the box and against which the patient'presses when receiving the treatment above referred to, the intensity of the operation being reguA lated by the pressure brought to bear against the pad or disk, which regulation is entirely within the control of the patient himself while undergoing treatment. tient may be more easily raised u'pon the box or case, it is intended that the same shall be fitted into any suitable support (not shown) of such a size and height that the patient may rest his feet upon the floor during the operation in order that he may himself regulate the amount of pressure exhibited against the pad or disk. It will thus be seen that the entire device is easily portable vand enables the operator to vary the character of treatment Without changing or regulating the machine to any appreciable extent, that the motorcase is so arranged that it not only serves as a receptacle for the motor, but also as a support for the patient while undergoing one kind of treatment, and that the parts are so arranged and related that they interfere in no wise with one another when in operation.

What we regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In amassage-machine, a reciprocating shaft, a suitable casing for the shaft, an eccentric against Which the reciprocating shaft is adapted to contact, and a spring su rrounding the reciprocating shaft for allowing the same to be brought against the pressure of the spring into contact with the eccentric, substantially as described.

2. In a massage-machine, the combination of a reciprocating shaft consisting of two sections slidable one within the other, a suitable casing for the shaft, an eccentric against which the reciprocating shaft is adapted to contact, and a spring surrounding the reciprocating shaft for allowing the same to be brought against the pressure of the spring into contact with the eccentric; substantially as described.

3. In a massage-machine, the combination of a reciprocating shaft consisting of two sections, an inner section and an outer section, the inner section being provided with a stud and the outer section being provided with a recess into which the stud may be entered, an interior spring within the recess, an exterior spring surrounding the reciprocating shaft and bearing against the outer section'thereof, a casing inclosing the reciprocating shaft against which the exterior spring contacts, and a main shaft within the casing provided with an'eccentric against which the reciprocating shaft is adapted to be forced against In order that the pa- IOO IIO

the pressure of the exterior spring, substanspring normally holding the reciprocating shaft out of contact with the eccentric, substantially as described.

5. In a massage-machine, the combination of a handle provided with a longitudinallyextendin'g hole therein, a main shaft entered into the hole in the handle, an eccentric 0n tending hole therein, a main `shaft entered into the hole in the handle, an eccentric on the end of the main shaft within a cross-head attached to the handle, a vibrating shaft pivoted Within one section of the cross-head and provided at its inner end with a contact for the eccentric, a reciprocating shaft consisting of an outer section and an inner section inserted thereinto, an interior spring Within the inner section, and an exterior spring encircling the reciprocating shaft and normally holding the same out of contact with the eccentric, substantially-as described.

7. In a massage-machine, the combination of a handle provided with a head at right angles thereto, `a main shaft within the handle terminating -in an eccentric operating Within the head, a reciprocating shaft Within the head consisting of an outer section and irewie Vanl inner section inserted thereinto, an inmain shaft for imparting a gyratory motion to the gyrating shaft, substantially as described.

8. In a massage-machine, the combination of a handle, a cross-head at an angle thereto, a main shaft Within the handle, an eccentric on the end of the main shaft Within the crosshead, an oscillating or rocking shaft pivoted within the cross-head and provided at its inner end with a fork contacting the eccentric, a gyrating shaft provided with a ball bearing pivoted in line with the main shaft and adapted to enter a recess in the endof the eccentric, substantially as described.

9. In a massage-machine, the combination of a handle, a main shaft Within the handle,

an eccentric on the end of the main shaft provided in its end with a recess, a gyratory shaft adapted to enter the recess, a ball on the gyratory shaft, a longitudinally-extending socket projecting from the ball, a rounded socket within which the ball is adapted to rotate, and a cap fitting down over the ball and provided with a rounded socket coinciding with its companion socket inclosing the ball, substantially as described.

CHARLES PFANSCHMIDT. l JOHN SIEFERT.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL W. BANNING, WALKER BANNING. 

